Blowpipe and cutting-torch.



1. HARRIS. BLOWPIPE AND CUTTING TORCH.

APPLICATlON FILED JAN.12 |916.

Patented Oct. 22,

JOHN HARRIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BLOWPIPE AND CUTTING-TORCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammen oet. a2, rais.

Application filed January 12, 1916. Serial No. 71,626.

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to blowpipes or cutting torches, and more particularly to torches of t-he character described in my application Serial No. 877,649, filed December 17, 1914,

y Patent 1,217,119, Feb. 20, 1917.

Among the objects to be secured in and through the use of my invention is the provision of a blowpipe or torch that can be used for cutting purposes alike-with a gas which is particularly rich in carbon and hydrogen (as acetylene), and a gas which is relativelypoo-r in such constituent elements-(as for instance, hydrogen alone).

An important advantage of my invention is to provide a pipe of the character described whereby, with the employment of a high-pressure oxygen bore of varying cross section, no increase or decrease in the size and number of the passageways for preheating gases will be necessary.

A further object and advantage of my invention is to provide a pipe of the character described with means whereby theflashing back of the gases will be prevented; also one whereby a concentrated flame will be produced that will reduce the slagging of the metal to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blowpipe or torch of the character `described which is capable of withstanding as well the cutting action of the oxygen and the melting action of the slag with which it may come into contact. u

Further objects of the invention are generally to improve the eiciency and convenience of operation of pipes of the character referred to. Y

In the drawings forming part hereof, Figure 1 represents. a side elevation of a torch or blowpipe constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the central portion of the blowpipe shown in Fig. 1 and corresponding substantially to; the line 2-2 of Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a ,rear end elevation of the blowpipe; Fig. an enlarged sectional detail corresponding to the line 4-4 of F 1g. 2;

Fig. 5 an enlarged sectional detail corresponding to the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 a side elevation of the burner tip of my blowpipe; and Fig. 7 a similar view of such tip, the outer sleeve being removed.

Describingby reference characters the various parts illustrated herein, A denotes generally a burner head, B a tubular handle for operating the blowpipe or torch, C the connect-ion through which oxygen is supplied for the preheating flame as well as for cutting purposes, and D the connection for the combustible gas for preheating.

The burner head A comprises a body a having connected thereto a detachable tip ai andan extension ai which is preferably cast, with the head proper and provided with a plurality of passageways arranged to supply oxygen for' the preheatinglmixture and for the cutting jet as well as for the combustible gas or gases mixed with the oxygen for the production of the preheating flame. For convenience of description, the blowpipe ortorch will be considered as being used in the position shown in Figs. l and 2, and the terms top andfbottom will be employed accordingly.

The body a is provided with an enlarged cylindrical chamber 1 extending upwardly from the lower end 2 of said body. This chamber is interiorly threaded at the lower end, as shown at 3, and at the upper end, as

shown at 4, there being a portion 5 intermediate of the threaded portions '3 and 4 which is relatively smooth, the threads being removed whereby an annular space 5a will be provided between such wall portion r:5 and the outer wall of the tip` (to be described hereinafter) At its upper end, the chamber 1 is provided with a frusto-cbnical seat 6 and from the upper end of said seat there extends a passageway 7, said passageway being bent or deflected laterally whereby it may register with the upper oxygen supply tube. From the upper portion of the chamber 1 there extends a passageway 8, said passageway being located in the extension a2 of the head and communicating with a second oxygen tube. The space 5a communicates with a third passageway 9 which is provided in the lateral extension a2 `of the head and which passageway in turn communicates with a third tube-the one conducting combustible fluid to the head. y

Coperating with the aforesaid passage- I ways andthe chamber 1 is the tip; rllhis tip comprises generally an outer sleeve member, which sleeve is secured -to an inner body member. The sleeve is indicated at 10, the lower end being preferably tapered, as indicated at 11. This sleeve is slid upon the lowerend of the body forming the inner tip member. rlhis-inner tip member comprises a lower plug 12 and an upper plug 13 united by a reduced intermediate portion 14.

.. The lower plug 12 is slightly tapered or frusto-conical, is nearly two lnches. in length, and is provided with a plurality of slots 15 extending the length thereof. Six such slots are preferably provided, and these slots are substantially rectangular in section, the slots extending inwardly `from the outer surface of such plug. The upper plug 13'is externally threaded, as shown at 13a, the plug being -reduced at its lower endto substantially the diameter of the plug 12, whereby the sleeve 10 may beconveniently applied to the inner member by being vslipped over the lower end of such inner member until the upper end of the sleeve abuts against the enlarged portion of the plug 13. Y

The sleeve may be secured in place 'as by means of a pin 16. When thus assembled, it will -be evident that 4a chamber17 is provided between the sleeve `lland the reduced yportion 14 of the inner tip member. The

portion of the sleeve which surrounds this reduced portion 14 is provided with a series of apertures 18 extending therearound and vcommunicating with the annular chamber 5 provided `between the sleeve andthe smooth wall. The plug 13 .is also provided with a bore 19 which communicates at its lower end ywith the chamber 1'7 and at itsupper end with the chamber 1-. Atits upper end, the

inner tip membervis provided with ahead 2O y having an annular seat` for a packing ring 21, said ring 'being'slipped' over a` reduced extension 22 of said head. The inner tip` member is providedl with a central bore 23` extending centrally the'full length'thereof,

- this central bore,v when the 'tip' is seated,

registering with the passageway 7 The tip,'co1npri'sing an Vinner and an outer member suitably connected; by the pin' l16,. is applied to the head by screwing the plug or body 4 into the head untilfthe projection 20- with the packing ringv 21 .abuts against the sea1;6.y The outer tip member will preferably be knurled, as indicated at 24, to

facilitatethe operation of 'applyingfthe tipl to and removing'it from thehead. The infner memberL ofythe tip is'fm'ade rofjbrass whereas theoter member is made, 'of copper, The advantages v z in employing these ma'l'g:

terials will be vexplained hereinafter.` f

2526 and 27 denote'three tubes connected i I to the head Agand communicatingrespectively with -the passageways-F, 8 and (9.'

Thesetubes, at theirrearvends (the ends re- `mote from the blowpipe head) a-r'elconnected to a body E which contains the'chambers` and coperating valve constructionforconwith the bore of the connection D. The passageway through this connection is con- Y trolled by vmeans of a rotary'valve- 30 having an operating handle 31. The connection C is provided for the application of a hose (pr similar conduit) for the oxygen. The oxyv gen. connection C communicates with a chamber 32 from ,which the passageway 33 is adapted to4 conduct the oxygen to a valvecontrolled Ypassageway 34 and, from said passageway, to a chamber 35 with which the pipe 26 communicates through the passage way 36. 37 denotes a needle valve which is threaded into the plug or body E and which" is provided with a needle point 38'coperating with the tapered passageway 34 to control andcutv olf the supply of oxygen tothe chamber 35 and thence to the chamber 17 within the outer sleeve member of the tip. The chamber 32 is `shown vas a cylindrical chamber, the inner end whereof'is providedwith a fru'sto-conical lvalve seat 39. Inthis chamber there is mounted a sleeve 40 having a seat 41 near its inner end for the valve proper 42which valve proper maybe ofany suitable material. Within the osleeve 40 is located va helical spring 43, the inner end whereof is adapted to engage the seat 41 while; the outer fend. prjects beyond the sleeve 'and'is compressed against the seat 41 fby means of a nut 44 threaded on to a nipple extension of the plug or body E-v From the valve seat39 there extends a passageway 45 which in turn communicates` with a passageway/F47 .in Ithe'body- E, said passageway communicating with and formmg an -eXtension'of the tube 25. The passageway 45 is bored' or extended fromthe valve seat3'9'toithe side ofthe head o r body E which is opposite4 the nut 44.- At. its outer end, the passageway 45is enlarged in order to receivea suit-able packing ring 48 :which maybe compressed lby Ameans of a nut'- 49, ;1counters'unk within the lenlargement oricup thus`form`ed. Through this nut, and-packed f by the ring 4 8, there extends a stemv or 'plunger 50, the inner'end whereof is re duced, as shown at 51, in-order to provide clearance forl the passage'of gas therearound,v

, the extreme end beingadapted toengage the valve 42. The outer end of the stem or plunger 5'0 is in position to be engaged and operated by means of a lever 52 which is shown as extending along the handle sleeve B in position to be conveniently grasped by the operator.

In order to prevent any leakage of gases between the lower end of the head A and the outer wall of the tip, a gland nut 53 is threaded onto the lower end of the head, said nut having a flange 54 having a central aperture substantially sizing or fitting the exterior of the tip sleeve, said ange forming a support for packing material 55 which is adapted to bear against the lower end of^ the head, thereby to close the joint between such head and the outer sleeve of the tip.

IVith the parts constructed and arranged as illustrated and described, the operation 4will be as follows:

The supply of acetylene (or other preheating combustible gas) is turned onto the tip by opening the valve 30, the supply passing through the passageways 2T, 29, openings 18, chamber 17 and passageways 15. Oxygen under low pressure and in sufficient quantity to produce with this combustible gas a preheating iame, is supplied by opening the valve 37, permitting a part of the oxygen conducted through the connection C to pass through the'bore 19 into the chamber 17. The oxygen and the combustible gas are mixedtand are supplied in4 such mlxed condition through the passageways 15. Then the metal t0 be cut has been heated sufficiently by the combustion of the gases supplied through the passageways 15, an independent supply of liiglrpressure oxygen 1s turnedon by manipulating the valve lever 52. This independent supply passes through the centralvbore 23 and opei" ates in the usual manner to cut the metal thus preheated. By the employment of the chamber 17, a more efficient mixing of the oxygen with combustible gas is secured than where the mixing is accomplished only in a restricted passageway. Furthermore, without this chamber, the flame is extremely liable to be blownout, especially after the tip becomes heated by the flame and by reason of its proximity to the metal which is being heated thereby.

In practice, where acetylene isjto be used as the combustible vpreheating gas, I have found that very satisfactory results can be obtained by making the lowerportion of the body .12 of the inner tip member labout 2l inches in lengt-h, the central bore being made with a No. 53 drill while the slots 15 are about 2&/1000 inchdeep and wide. IVith these dimensions and using the'voxygen and the acetylene under the pressures which are ordinarily4 lemploy-'edili this wart, the pipe .will work satisfactorily in cutting metal up to five (5) inches in thickness. A great advantage of my construction Ais that, should it be desired to cut metal. of greater thickness than that specified, this result can be secured by merely increasing the diameter Y of the central bore but without the necessity for increasing the dimensions of the passageways for the preheating mixture. Furthermore, the convergence of the passage--V ways 15 toward the discharge end of the central bore 23 produces a concentrated preheating flame and enables me to preheatthe metal very quickly and without the necessity for shifting the blowpipe in order to secure. the necessary preheating temperature.

rI`he pressure of the oxygen`I which is supplied through the passageway 8 should be at leastas great as that of the acetylene supplied through t-he passageway 9. In practice, it is preferable to have the pressure of the oxygen greater than that of the acetylene so as to avoid any danger of the acetylene working back into the oxygen pipe.

Reference has been made hereinbefore to the fact that the outer tip member or jacket is lmade of copper while the inneror body member is made of brass. Both the brass and the copper will withstand the cutting action of the oxygen jet. However, brass is liable to bev melted by contact with the slag which is produced during the cutting/operation. I have found, however, that by making the outer member or sleeve /of the tip of copper, the melting of this tip by slag is practically overcome and thetip is not injured by the oxygen. I am thus enabled -to increase the efficiency of the blowpipe used with hydrogen I preferably employ six slots in the body 12 and five when the tip is to be used with acetylene. When it is intended to use hydrogen for the preheating gas, the blowpipe will be substantially identical with that employed for acetylene, the only difference being that the passageways for the preheating gaseswill be larger. There hydrogen is used the 'passageways l5 should be 11/ 1000 inch deep and wide as against 21k/1000 inch deep and wide` as specified in connection with the use of acetylene. In all other respects the tips will be identical and the capacity of' the pipes will be identical so far as cutting is concerned.` lVhere hydrogen is used for 'the preheating gas, if it is desired to increase the capacity of the pipe (as to cut metal lmore 'than ve inches thick/)1H the cross-sec;

` tional areas of the preheating mixture passageways mustbe increased in accordanceA with the increase in the cross-sectional area of the cent-raloxygen.passageway.` This is because of the difference in the ch'aracteris tics of the two gases, it being necessary,

where acetylene is used, that the preheatingflame shouldbe kept small in size, or concentrated, in order to prevent'slagging, be cause of the higher temperature of the acetysaid end, means for'conducting. a combusti- 'plied to said central bore.

b le gas to said chamber, and means for conducting oxygen int said chamber, there being ariindependent centralv passageway through the tip through "which oxygen under pressure may be conducted to the' discharge end of the tip for the purpose of cutting.

2. --In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a head, a tip detachably connectedA with saidhead, said tip being provided with a mixing chamber intermediate its ends, and said head having a pas# sageway for combustible gas communicat- .ing with said chamber and a second passageway through which oxygen may beadmitted to said chamber and mixwith thev combustible gas, said .tip being provided with a'centrally arrangedbore for oxygen .and said-head being provided with a passageway through which oxygen may be sup- 3. In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a head, said head having a passageway 'for combustible gas and two l passageways for oxygen therewithin, a tip within said head, said. tip being provided with a mixing chamber with which the passageway i'or combustible gas communicates and withpassageways leading from the.

. mixing chamber to the discharge' end of the tip, there being a passageway' provided in said tip whereby oxygen maybe conducted .to themixing chamberfrom oneof the oxygen passageways in said head, and said tip being provided. with a, lcentral passageway 1 throughwhich oxygenV from the other oxygen passagewayinthehead may be conduct-.l

ed for purposes of cutting.A

' a :mixing 1 ch,amber'v',intermediatev the ,ends

an interiorly threaded. bore,""'of=atip having thereof'l and'l provided with an .exterior thread whereby it may be'detachably connected to saidv bore, Said tfpv 'having'a `plug the upper end of the bore in the head and rality of passageways. for a mixture of oxygen and a combustible gas, said passageways extending from the mixing chamber and said head having passageways for conducting combustible gas and oxygen to the chamber, said tip having a centra-ll passageway for oxygen under pressure and said head having a passageway through which cutting oxygen may be. supplied to said central passageway. f'

5. In a device of the character described, the combination, with a head having three passageways. therein and an internally threaded bore'with which said passageways may communicate, of -a tip comprising an inner body provided .with an externally threaded portion-which is adapted to engage the thread on the interior of the said bore, said body being reduced intermediate its ends, anl external sleeve surrounding the Vlower and unthreaded portion of the tip -body and forming with such reduced portion avcham-ber, said sleeve having a plurality of openings therethroughl located within .an annular space inthe head with fwhich one of Athe head passageways communicates, there being passageways extending from'said chamber tothe discharge end otthe tip, there being a passagewayV through the threaded portion Aof the tip body through `which. oxygen may be supplied from another passageway in the head to the aforesaid chamber and such tip being d Vprovidedfwith a central bore for oxygen adapted to communicate with the third pass'agewayin the head. y L

6. -Thecombinatiom -with a head having lan internally threaded bore extending upwardly from the bottom end thereof and i having a tapered seat at the upper end of said bore, said head having a passageway adapted to communicate with the tapered seating portion of the bore and provided with vertically spaced passageways below the first mentioned passageway, of. a tip comprising an inner body having near its upper` end an externally threaded oenlargement whereby the tip may be secured within the bore of the head, said bodyv havingl a reduced portion Qelow said threadedl enlargement and provided' with acentral bore and with a passageway at'one Side ofsaid bore andextending through saidl enlargement, said tip including an outer sleeve member surrounding the lower portion of the inner body member and covering the resleeve being provided with openings adapt- I ed to communicatewithsuch reduced por- 4. The. com bmatiomf-with'a head having tion, there vvbeing p assageway'sg extending from the chamber ,thus vformed within. the

inner member also having a portionadapted to seat against'the taperedseat'provided at duced portion of such inner member, said `sleeve to the discharge end ofthe tip, said iso rasante provided with a central bore adapted to register with the central bore of said body and with the first mentioned passageway in sleeve, means for supplying to another passageway in the head oxygen which enters said chamber through the passageway lin the enlarged portion of the tip, and means for supplying oxygen through the first passage- -way in the head and through the central bore of the tip.

. 7. The combination, with a head having a passageway for combustible gas and two passageways for oxygen, of a tip within' such head having a mixing chamber adapted to Vreceive combustible'gas from the rst passageway in said head and oxygen from one of the oxygen passageways in said head and to conduct the same to the tip for the purpose of providing a preheating flame, said tiphaving a central bore for conducting oxygen from the second oxygen passageway in the head to the discharge end thereof for the purpose'of cutting.

8. The combination, with'a head having a passageway for combustible gas and two passageways for oxygen, of a tip within such head and having a `mixing chamber adapted to receive the combustible gas from the rst passageway and theoxygen from one of the oxygen passageways and conduct the same to the discharge end of the tip thereby to produce a preheating flame, said tip having a central bore for conducting' oxygen from the third passageway. to the discharge end of the tip thereby to `produce a cutting action.

9. The combination, with a'head having therein a passageway for combustible gas and a pair of passageways for oxygen, of a tip connected with such head, said tip having a mixing chamber intermediateof the ends thereof, means for supplying combustible gas from the appropriate passageway in the head to said mixing chambelg'means for injecting oxygen under low pressure from one of the oxygen passageways into said chamber, there being passageways extending from such chalnber to the discharge end of the tip, said tip having a central bore, and means for conducting oxygen under higher pressure for cutting purposes from the other oxygen passageway of the head through such central bore.

10. A tip for the purpose described having a central passageway of substantially the diameter of a No. 53-gage drill and having passageways surrounding the central passageway extending to the 'discharge end of the tip, the last mentioned passageways being substantially square in section and not materially in excess of 40/1000th inch deep and wide and converging toward the discharge end of the central bore or passagelll. As a new article of manufacture a tip for blow pipes having a central bore or passageway of substantially the diameter of a No. 53 gage drill, and also having surrounding the central passageway extending to the discharge end thereof a plurality of substantially square passageways, each passageway beingin width and depth about 24/1000th inch and converging toward the discharge end of the central bore or passageway.

12. 'A tip ofthe character described comprising an inner body or plug of brass having passageways therein for preheating and cutting-gases, of a copper sleeve surround- -ing the lower or discharge end of the said inner body and extending'into the head, and means including a flexible joint for securing the said sleeve within the head.

13. The combination, with an inner tip member comprising a body having a central boreor passageway therethrough, said body being of brass, of a copper sleeve surrounding the lower portion of said inner body,

there being passageways formed'in the inner body and covered by said sleeve 'and -extending -to the discharge end of said body .and extending into the head, and means including a flexible joint forl securing the said .sleeve within the head.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afx my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JOI-IN' HARRIS. Witnesses:

CHAs. E. BROCK, HUGH B. MCGILL. 

